So, you've decided to download an older version of Mac OS X. There are many reasons that could point you to this radical decision. To begin with, some of your apps may non be working properly (or simply crash) on newer operating systems. Likewise, you may have noticed your Mac'due south performance went down right after the final update. Finally, if y'all want to run a parallel re-create of Mac Os X on a virtual machine, you too will need a working installation file of an older Mac OS X. Further down we'll explain where to get one and what issues you may face downwards the road.

A list of all Mac Os X versions

We'll be repeatedly referring to these Apple tree Os versions below, and then it's good to know the basic macOS timeline.

Chetah 10.0 Puma 10.1 Jaguar ten.ii
Panther x.iii Tiger 10.4 Leopard 10.v
Snow Leopard 10.vi Lion 10.7 Mountain Lion 10.8
Mavericks 10.9 Yosemite 10.ten El Capitan 10.11
Sierra x.12 High Sierra ten.13 Mojave 10.14
Catalina 10.xv

STEP 1. Ready your Mac for installation

Given your Mac isn't new and is filled with data, yous will probably need enough complimentary infinite on your Mac. This includes non just infinite for the Os itself but also space for other applications and your user information. One more statement is that the gratis space on your disk translates into virtual memory so your apps have "fuel" to operate on. The nautical chart beneath tells yous how much gratuitous space is needed.

Note, that information technology is recommended that you install OS on a clean bulldoze. Next, y'all will demand enough disk space bachelor, for case, to create Recovery Sectionalization. Hither are some ideas to free up space on your drive:

  • Uninstall big unused apps
  • Empty Trash Bin and Downloads
  • Locate the biggest files on your estimator:

Get to Finder > All My Files > Conform past size

Then you can move your space hoggers onto an external drive or a cloud storage.

If you aren't comfortable with cleaning the Mac manually, there are some nice automatic "room cleaners". Our favorite isCleanMyMac as it'south almost simple to employ of all. It deletes system junk, sometime broken apps, and the rest of hidden junk on your bulldoze.

CleanMyMac X - Smart Scan complete

Download CleanMyMacfor Bone 10.4 - 10.8 (free version)

Download CleanMyMac for Os 10.9 (complimentary version)

Download CleanMyMacfor OS x.10 - 10.14 (free version)

Stride 2. Get a copy of Mac Os X download

Ordinarily, information technology is assumed that updating Os is a one-way road. That's why going dorsum to a by Apple Bone version is problematic. The principal challenge is to download the OS installation file itself, because your Mac may already exist running a newer version. If you succeed in downloading the Bone installation, your next step is to create a bootable USB or DVD and then reinstall the OS on your reckoner.

How to download older Mac OS X versions via the App Store

Mac operating system download


If you once had purchased an old version of Mac Bone X from the App Shop, open information technology and go to the Purchased tab. At that place you'll notice all the installers y'all tin can download. All the same, it doesn't ever work that style. The purchased section lists but those operating systems that you had downloaded in the by. But here is the path to bank check it:

  1. Click the App Store icon.
  2. Click Purchases in the top menu.
  3. Curl downwardly to find the preferred Bone X version.
  4. Click Download.

This method allows you lot to download Mavericks and Yosemite by logging with your Apple ID — just if you previously downloaded them from the Mac App Store.

Without App Shop: Download Mac Bone version as Apple Developer

If yous are signed with an Apple Developer account, you lot tin can get access to products that are no longer listed on the App Shop. If you badly need a lower Bone Ten version build, consider creating a new Developer account among other options. The membership price is $99/twelvemonth and provides a agglomeration of perks unavailable to ordinary users.

Nevertheless, proceed in mind that if you visit programmer.apple tree.com/downloads, you lot can merely find 10.3-10.6 Bone X operating systems there. Newer versions are not available because starting Mac OS X Snowfall Leopard 10.7, the App Store has become the only source of updating Apple OS versions.

Buy an older version of Mac operating system

Apple OS Versions

You can purchase a boxed or electronic mail version of past Mac OS X direct from Apple. Both volition toll you lot around $20. For the reason of being rather antiquated, Snow Leopard and before Apple versions can simply exist installed from DVD.

Buy a boxed edition of Snow Leopard 10.6
Become an e-mail copy of Lion 10.7
Get an electronic mail copy of Mountain King of beasts 10.viii

The email edition comes with a special download code you tin use for the Mac App Store. Note, that to install the Lion or Mountain King of beasts, your Mac needs to exist running Snow Leopard so you tin can install the newer Bone on height of it.

How to go macOS El Capitan download

If you are wondering if you tin can run El Capitan on an older Mac, rejoice as information technology's possible too. Only before your Mac can run El Capitan it has to be updated to Os Ten ten.half dozen.8. So, here are main steps y'all should take:

1. Install Snow Leopard from install DVD.
2. Update to ten.6.8 using Software Update.
iii. Download El Capitan hither.

"I tin't download an old version of Mac Os X"

If yous accept a newer Mac, there is no physical selection to install Mac OS versions older than your electric current Mac model. For instance, if your MacBook was released in 2014, don't expect it to run any Bone released prior of that time, because older Apple OS versions only practise non include hardware drivers for your Mac.

Mac os x download

Only as it often happens, workarounds are possible. There is nevertheless a risk to download the installation file if you take an access to a Mac (or virtual auto) running that operating organisation. For case, to get an installer for Lion, you lot may enquire a friend who has King of beasts-operated Mac or, again, set up a virtual automobile running Lion. And so you will demand to gear up an external drive to download the installation file using OS X Utilities.

Subsequently you lot've completed the download, the installer should launch automatically, only you can click Abolish and copy the file you need. Below is the detailed teaching how to do it.

Step 3. Install older OS X onto an external drive

The following method allows you to download Mac Os Ten Panthera leo, Mountain Panthera leo, and Mavericks.

  1. Offset your Mac holding down Command + R.
  2. Ready a clean external drive (at least 10 GB of storage).
  3. Inside OS Ten Utilities, choose Reinstall OS X.
  4. Select external bulldoze as a source.
  5. Enter your Apple tree ID.
How to download old Mac OS X versions

Now the OS should starting time downloading automatically onto the external drive. After the download is complete, your Mac will prompt y'all to exercise a restart, but at this signal, you should completely shut it down. Now that the installation file is "captured" onto your external drive, you can reinstall the Os, this time running the file on your Mac.

  1. Boot your Mac from your standard drive.
  2. Connect the external drive.
  3. Become to external bulldoze > OS 10 Install Data.

Locate InstallESD.dmg disk image file — this is the file you demand to reinstall Lion OS 10. The same steps are valid for Mountain Lion and Mavericks.

How to downgrade a Mac running afterward macOS versions

If your Mac runs macOS Sierra 10.12 or macOS Loftier Sierra 10.thirteen, it is possible to revert information technology to the previous system if you lot are not satisfied with the experience. Y'all can exercise it either with Fourth dimension Machine or by creating a bootable USB or external drive.

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS High Sierra

Instruction todowngrade from macOS Mojave

Didactics to downgrade from macOS Catalina

Before yous practice it, the all-time advice is to dorsum your Mac up so your most of import files stay intact. In addition to that, information technology makes sense to clean upwardly your Mac from old system junk files and application leftovers. The easiest way to do it is to run CleanMyMac 10 on your machine (download information technology for costless here).

Visit your local Apple Store to download older Bone X version

If none of the options to get older Bone 10 worked, pay a visit to nearest local Apple Shop. They should have image installations going back to Os Leopard and earlier. You can likewise enquire their assist to create a bootable USB drive with the installation file. Then here yous are. Nosotros hope this article has helped yous to download an old version of Mac OS Ten. Below are a few more links y'all may find interesting.